Corliss valve-gear.



. I. J. LAUHON. GORLISS VALVE GEAR. APPLICATION FILED mm: a, 1910.

991,330. I Patented May 2, 1911.

ULLUULULLULUIII IRA J. LAUHON, 01-1 NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA.

CORLISS VALVE-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed June 8, 1910. Serial No. 565,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA J. LAUHoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Noblesville, in the county of Hamilton and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corliss Valve- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Corliss valve movements, and particularly to a novel construction of dash-pot mechanism therefor, the primary object of the invention being to provide a construction and arrangement of parts whereby a single dash-pot will serve for closing both steam valves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel manner of connecting the dash-pot rods to the valve actuating levers and dash-pot levers, whereby the parts may be readily adjusted to compensate for wear.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in elevation of a Corliss valve movement embodying my invention, with the driving eccentric and parts in neutral position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts arranged to open one of the steam valves.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the side jacket of the cylinder of a Corliss engine; 2 the stems of the admission or steam valves thereof; 3 the stems of the exhaust valves; t the bell crank actuating le vers loosely pivoted on the stems 2; 5 the bell crank valve actuating levers fixed to the stemsQ; 6 the crab claw levers carried by the levers 5 and adapted to engage and move the levers 4 on their working stroke to open the admission valves; 7 the oscillating eccentric disk; 8 the rods connecting the said disk with the levers 4; and 9 the rods connecting the disk with the crank arms on the exhaust valve stems 3. All of the aforesaid parts may be of ordinary construction as employed in the usual Corliss valve motion.

The dash-pot mechanism for closing the steam valves after moving to open position comprises a frame 10 mounted upon the engine base below and in line with the axis of the eccentric disk 'F'and including in its construction standards 11 having bifurcated upper ends 12 and connected below the same by a cross bar 13. Mounted upon the frame 10 between the lower ends of the standards 11 is a dash-pot cylinder 1 1, closed at its base and provided with an upwardly extending cylindrical flange 15 forming a prolongation of, the wall of the cylinder. Mounted for vertical movement in the cylinder is the weighted dash-pot piston or.

plunger 16, having a depending flange 17 which telescopes over the flange 15.

The piston is adapted to be elevated in the cylinder in the usual manner to form a vacuum therein, by which the pressure of the air upon the exterior of the piston, when the latter is free for descent will be utilized in connection with the weight of the piston to cause it to move downward to normal position, and thereby through the connections hereinafter described close the steam valves. The piston may be provided with a valved outlet for the exhaust of any excess amount of air from the cylinder on the descent of the said piston and any suitable type of dash p ot may be employed.

The bar 13 forms a guide for a vertically movable stem 26 pivotally coupled at its lower end to the ears 21 by a pin 27 and provided at its upper end wit-h a wristpin 28 projecting laterally therefrom.

Fulcrumed on bolts 29 between the respective bifurcated ends of the standards 11 are bell-crank levers 30 and 30 pivotally connected at their outer ends by rods 31 with the valve actuating levers 5. The inner end of the lever 30 is bifurcated to receive the inner end of the lever 30, whereby said levers are held in guided connection, and said ends of the levers are respectively formed with arcuate slots 31 and 31 receiving and engaging the pin 28, each lever thus having a pivotal slip-joint connection with the stem 26. Said slots 31 and 31 are described on reversely extending intersecting arcs and are of a length to permit the levers to swing to the necessary degree to raise the piston and to be returned to normal position thereby, as well as to allow each-lever to be moved to its full extent without interference from the other. Cushioning stops 82 are provided on the standards 11 to yieldingly limit the downward movement of the slotted arms of the levers, 30, 30. The rods 31 are connected with the wrist-pins or bolts 83, 38 uniting them to the levers 5 and 30, 30 by couplings 84, each threaded on the adjacent end of the rod and held by a clamp nut 35.

In operation, assuming the eccentric disk thereby forming a vacuum in the daslrpot cylinder, the pin 28 in this movement of the piston traveling upward in the slot 31 in the lever 30, whereby the latter will remain unaffected. WVh'en the bell crank 5 is released by the crab claw 6, the piston will drop and in an obvious manner close the steam valve and at the same time restor the lever 30 to normal position. Upon the movement of the eccentric in the reverse clirection to open the left-hand steam valve, the slotted end 31 of the lever 30 will be raised without affecting the lever 30 and will elevate the piston, which will subsequently close said valve and return the lever 30 to normal position. It will thus be seen that through the simple construction and arrangement of devices embodying my invention a single dash-pot mechanism will close both steam valves, thus avoiding the necessity of employing a dash-pot for each valve.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. In a Corliss engine, and in combination with the steam valves and their actuating devices including valve closing levers, a

dash-pot cylinder, a piston operating therein, elevating levers, each having a slip joint connection with said piston and rods connecting said levers with the valve closing levers.

2. In a Corliss engine, and in combination with the steam valves and their actuating devices including valve closing levers, a dash-pot cylinder, a piston operating therein, and having an upwardly extending stem carrying an engaging pin, elevating levers, each having a segmentally slotted end receiving and engaging said pin, and rods connecting said levers with the valve closing levers.

3. In a Corliss engine, and in combination with the steam valves and their actuating devices includingvalve closing levers, a frame having guiding and supporting portions, a dash-pot cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston operating therein, a stem connected therewith and movable through the guiding portion of the frame and provided with a laterally extending pin, bell crank elevating levers fulcrumed on said supporting portions of the frame and hav ing arcuately slotted arms receiving and engaging said pin, and rods connecting the other arms of said levers with the valve closing levers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRA J. LAUI-ION.

Witnesses TALTER MARGASON, EDGAR AKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

